Military Governance Bureau of Jazta (Jazta Union)

Warships	Bases	Mobile Shipyards and Repair Ships
Carriers	Tug	Minelayers and Sweepers
Auxiliaries	Troopships and Transports	Survey Ships

Tech Levels 7 - 9
Further Background and Tech Level 11 Ships

Description
     Similar in form to the Hokum, the strong and squat Jazta look like bipedal tortoises that reach 1.5 meters in height. Each shoulder supports a pair of muscular arms. The four hands each have two thick fingers and a strong but dexterous thumb. The feet have three large toes that have quite a strong grip. Over the millennium the shell covering a typical Jazta's back and chest had atrophied to the point where it can offer little protection from claws and fangs but is still effective against blunt hits like punches and small falling debris. Also tortoise-like in appearance is the head. Instead of ear holes there are earlobes, and the mouth has large molars suited to chewing plant material, though Jaztans on occasion eat meat. Egg layers, the typical Jaztan female produces from one to five eggs five weeks after fertilization.
     The current Jazta nation arouse from over a century of world-wide communist rule. Corruption and excesses of the ruling body had grown to a point where the people just couldn't ignore it anymore. An underground movement bent on overthrowing the government was formed by leading dissidents. Just days from launching their revolution key cells of the underground were captured by military teams, but those were not the only ones. A particularly ambitious general had learned of the underground's plan and decided to use it to his own advantage. The general, Upsu, had been working on his own plan to take over the government. While dissidents and underground members were rounded up leading governmental figures were placed into 'protective custody' and key infrastructure sites were quietly taken over by troops.
     In a speech broadcasted to the planetary population Upsu announced the formation of a new government. In a shrewd move the general abolished the state political party and allowed the formation of new political groups at the local and regional level. The armed forces took control of affairs that affected the planet as a whole, managing the economy as well as military needs. Overall the dissidents and their underground accepted the new order though not without some persuasive arm twisting by Upsu. He made it clear that as long as the proper respect and consideration was given to the military government civilian affairs would be left alone. The execution of the most corrupt of the former government furthered Upsu's point of co-operation.
   Under the guidance of the Military Governance Bureau the Jazta moved out into space. Warp points were found relatively early, giving the nascent Universal Star Navy (USN) a new mission and the Bureau of Budget a reason to increase military spending. The civil sector and economy grew as new systems were settled, and the USN likewise took its share of the new resources. After thirty years of warp point exploration the Jazta had thirty systems with eight habitable worlds and twice as many hostile environment settlements on mineral rich planets. Only two pre-industrial races were encountered. Since they posed no threat the Jazta ignored them for the time being.
     The life of military drill and procedure came to an abrupt halt when contact was made with the Duchy of Xhali. It was in a system that the Xhali had only just explored a week earlier, and the commander on the spot initiated first contact. Having no real guide in dealing with a high-tech alien race, the Jazta proceeded cautiously, but bureaucratically. A task force was placed on standby in case talks went sour, and more than a few USN admirals anticipated a shooting war. Then it appeared that those admirals got their wish when Xhali Duke Cussel made a bold offer. The two sides would compose a force of ships of equal tonnage and fight for possession of the system. What sealed the deal was the habitable world in that system. Faced with that delectable prize and pressures within the bureaucracy to use the fleet the Jazta agreed.
     While the USN felt more than confident in its own strength it was caught off guard by the Xhali possession of the prototype strikefighter. 80% of the Jazta task force was composed of dreadnoughts and battleships while two-thirds of the Xhali forces were carriers. The Xhali lost only three battlecruisers while the whole Jazta contingent was crippled by a massive fighter strike. The admiral in charge, Walkin, conceded the battle to his counterpart.
     Quite impressed by Xhalian technical skill and prowess the Jazta were quick to offer a comprehensive trade and mutual military aid pact. Bounded as they were by bureaucratic procedure the USN realized that they could learn a great deal from the Xhali. Fighters and carriers became the number one research priority. The influx of trade revenue certainly helped in funding all the required R&D projects.

The Universal Star Navy (USN)
     The overriding philosophy of the USN is 'practice makes perfect'. When not engaged in maneuvers or war games USN crews would participate in refresher courses or learn new skills. In the typical six-year enlistment a Jaztan would have expert knowledge in two specialties and working knowledge in five more. Promotion to higher ranks for enlisted personnel is weighted in large part to technical expertise. Due to the routine of shipboard drills and study USN crews on newly-commissioned ships are always average. The time to drill a fleet from average to crack is halved. If crew grade is lowered to poor due to combat losses or low morale the time to recover to an average grade is halved.
     Like some navies prior to first contact with alien races the USN built ships with weapon combinations that suited its combat style. More so in this case, the USN bureaucracy decided the combat style. After a protracted series of war games it fell upon the plasma torpedo to serve as the main armament of the new Fishhawk dreadnoughts and refitted Stonehawk battleships. While such an armament would've served well against a lower-tech opponent it was totally useless when faced with a fighter using race. Even when presented with the facts the USN persevered with the plasma torpedo, even to the extent of equipping their super monitors with the weapon decades later. It would take a figurative kick to the teeth, in the form of the Pulurtan heavy bombardment missile, before plasma torpedoes were removed from major combatants.
     As for the plasma gun the USN saw it as a perfect complement to the battleline. Despite the slow firing rate the size of the weapon allowed a useful number of them to be installed on the Bloodhawk class battlecruiser. Along with the Tern class frigates the ships were to rush the enemy battleline, forcing to fire on them instead of the plasma torpedo armed capital ships. After the Xhali battle it was recognized that some form of capital missile armed ship had to be included in the fleet. With the following bureaucratic delays it would take over ten years before such a ship became a reality.

Allied with Xhali, the Jazta military experienced an increased need to expand its research and development programs. Strikefighters and carriers were on top of the list. Observing that the DSF had no real advantage in conventional shipboard weapons the plasma torpedo was retained in service. One significant change was the addition of the Ostrich class missile ship. Now capable of engaging at all ranges the USN updated its training schedule and participated in joint exercises with the DSF.
The two governments got along very well. Duke Cussel and Bureau Chief Atmy were, essentially, the heads of two nations that shared several common elements. Both had bureaucracies that, despite their apparent countervailing priorities and agendas, saw to the needs of the populace. The two leaders were the ultimate wielders of influence and power, and inspired loyalty and dedication in the armed forces. Most importantly, they saw in the other what they wanted the most. Cussel secured the services of a powerful ally that, when the time came to return to the High Kingdom, would help in disposing the pretender monarch that sat on the throne. Atmy secured a future war for his military to gain prestige, glory, and territory. Given the high level of confidence that both sides felt in their power it was expected that no foe could withstand them. In time that confidence would be put to the test.